Not Getting Paid

We all know how hard it is to find work and with all that it brings with it like having to deal with low bidders and fly by nighters .

just keeping your self and your employee working is quite a job in it self, so when  you do find work you put all that you are into it and hope that everything you do will result in leading to more work.

But even when you go over and above to complete your work with professional workmanship  and fix other peoples work all the time dealing with the owner sending other trades in and screwing up your time line. 

you do not expect to have to deal with not getting your money , but that is what just happen .

I went into this job knowing  I would have to fix the mess that the first framer had done .

the floor was out of square by 6" and the project was 2 month behind .

So in I come and not only fix everything and get the job back on track but take over and finish everything .

So after i spend 2 nights installing pine flooring along comes the owner and the stain they want is a rub on furniture stain sorry not what was quoted  , the wife decides that she wants the finish applied with some stain mixed in .

the next day they do not like the look so sand all day and start over he picks a stain half a bedroom done the wife does not like that .

Now 6 sat night and i still have not been paid for the pine install and now they want me to hand rub stain on all night , well not happening they will not pay extra so tell them no and then they decideI should   leave and now they will not pay me for the pine install which was a separate contract .

This kind of crap is what really tics me off you give the job all you got and the owner could give a dam they just think that you are disposable with no regard to what  not getting your money will do to you and your family.

Now what are you to do put a lien on the house well that takes money and remember just did not get paid , threaten  them well maybe might work but most often they will call police and them were will you be . 

I use social media to inform people just who they are and try to hurt them this way if they have a company then this can effect them but most often you will be out and without using violence to  make them pay people will just keep doing it .

in my case the owner is greg peterson  with growthadvisors.ca   and renovantage.com  president of renovantage inc    

Flood rebuilding

Over the past few weeks we have all seen the picture listen to the story of heartbreak and devastation that was all in thanks to the hight water causing flooding throughout muskoka and Halliburton .

As the water starts to recede and the damage is finally being inspected the cost are rising and with many not covered under their insurance it will be up to the home owners to deal with the repairs.
While this will give the local guy a chance to pick up some work it will also open the door for bad choices and fraud , as with all building projects when hiring contractors always ask and check ref,
always get 3 quote and never feel rushed or pushed to commit to a contractor .

now paying for material when they are delivered is common but large deposit is a red flag and make sure that the work is done and been inspected before paying .
remember all work requires a permit .
if your contractor brings in subs then make sure you get a clearance that they have been paid before you pay off the builder for everything.

Now with everything else it is very important that you do not try to do more than you can afford.
work with your contractor not against them set your goals and time line at the start .

remember just as many jobs go south because of bad contractor as do bad home owners

huntsville project coming to an end

well we are at the trim stage now soon it will be over and on to the next project
hear are some pic of the progress

when it comes to ICF most people would think of block ICF as the name implies block ICF is in block form and goes together like lego blocks .
this type of ICF is available through most building centres or by local dealers .
I have had the opportunity to build using 3 different manufactures of block ICF and found that there had to be a better ICF.
with the block you are always having to add bracing to stop the blocks from coming apart when pouring concrete .
many times no matter how well you brace there is still a brake when pouring ,
the block want to lift up when concrete is being poured in so you need to tie the blocks together or add 1x3 on the side of block.

while ICF block is still a good product and will do the job it is intended for I have found a ICF that not only is faster but require less bracing and less rebar.
the product that i have stated using is TF systems vertical ICF while blocks are like the name implies vertical ICF is vertical panels 8" wide that go together with plastic webbing .
being vertical and anchored down to the footing means that less bracing will be needed .
This system has turned out to take about half the time to put up compared to block .


There is no other system for my build now , the fact that it is faster to use and saves money by using less rebar and not needing all the extra 1x3 bracing
Simply put VICF will prove that this is the way to build , the block guy have all ready start to drop their prices or try to spread doubt to combat the surge in use and interest with TF systems VICF

more pic more snow still moving forward

huntsville cottage

more pic siding soffit facia hydro line going in . mud every where

Huntsville cottage

here are some more pic of cottage , water and sewer line going in soffit and more siding electrical and heating started